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Chelmsford team among 16 finalists in 'High School Quiz Show'

By Grant Welker, gwelker@lowellsun.com

Updated:
11/26/2012 08:44:42 AM EST

These are the members of the Chelmsford High School team that will compete in WGBH-TV's "High School Quiz Show" in January. From left are Tom Hoang, Dan Erdosy, Graham Lustiber, Brendan Duffy and alternate Siyuan Ma. Missing is alternate Sourabh Marathe. COURTESY PHOTO

A team from Chelmsford High School is among 16 finalists across Massachusetts in WGBH-TV's "High School Quiz Show," after passing through a qualifying round earlier this month.

A team of Chelmsford students will compete against other schools' teams in January on a show hosted by TV and radio personality Billy Costa. The show will premiere on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 6:30 p.m. on WGBH.

"It is always good to see students who apply themselves to their studies, and who are willing to be challenged," said science teacher Gordon Scott, who is coaching the Chelmsford team. "These students fit that mold. We are sure that they will represent Chelmsford in a very positive way, showing the quality of their education and what it will enable them to do beyond CHS."

Chelmsford's team consists of four main members: Brendan Duffy, Daniel Erdosy, Tom Hoang and Graham Lustiber. Alternates are Siyuan Ma and Sourabh Marathe. All are seniors.

Dracut, Lowell, Tyngsboro and Westford Academy competed in the opening round but did not advance.

Chelmsford's involvement began when a few of the team members heard about the quiz show, Scott said. They had been involved in science competitions since their freshman year and were curious to find out how they'd do against other schools when quizzed about broader topics. So they formed a team, contacted WGBH about entering the contest, and persuaded Scott, the science club adviser, to be their sponsor.

"As self-motivated students, they are doing their own preparation for the event," he said.

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They certainly had the experience, with members of the team having participated in the Blue Lobster Bowl, an ocean-science competition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the regional competition for the National Science Bowl, held at the University of Massachusetts Lowell; and the Massachusetts Science Olympiad at Framingham State University.

"Since these are very smart students, they are good in all their subjects, not just science," Scott said.

In the qualifying round of the WGBH competition, the students spent about an hour answering 100 questions on various subjects. They found out later that they were one of 16 to move on to the final rounds, which will be taped in front of a live audience and later televised. In the final rounds, family members of competing students, their classmates, teachers, and their school's cheerleaders and mascots will be invited to attend.

The quiz show is in its fourth season. Last year's state champion was Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School.

In a new feature this year, the Massachusetts winner will face off against the winner from New Hampshire Public Television's "Granite State Challenge."

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